NECTARINIA INSIGNIS, Gowa.
Penang Sun-bird.

Nectarinia insignis, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc. 1865, p. 663.

 

Every ornithologist who has turned his attention to the birds of the Old World is aware that the Sun-birds
are exceedingly numerous. Tropical Africa abounds with them ; they are equally abundant in India from
the Himalayas to the most southern point of the peninsula ; many inhabit Malasia, Java, Sumatra, and the
islands generally to New Guinea and even to Northern Australia. In each of those countries the woods
are tenanted and the flora visited by these nectar-loving little birds.

As may be readily imagined, considerable diversity of form is found to exist among them, and consequently
they have been subdivided into various genera; in the present work, however, I have retained all the species
under the term Nectarinia, but have at the same time generally indicated the section or genus to which each
has been respectively assigned. The present bird, which is here figured for the first time, belongs to
Arachnechthra, the members of which are distinguished for having a beautiful flame- or yellow-coloured
spot on each side of the chest. WV. Osea, N. Asiatica, and N. Lotenia are other examples of this form. I
regret to say that nothing is known respecting the present very distinct species. The specimen from which
my figure was taken was received direct from Penang by a gentleman in Glasgow, who sent it, together with
fine skins of Polyplectron, Harpactes, Cymbirhynchus, &c., to a fishing-tackle maker in London, to be made
into Salmon-flies ; and I consider myself fortunate that they came under my notice, as I was thereby enabled
to rescue the solitary specimen of this lovely bird from such an ignoble fate.

In size the XW. insignis is intermediate between NV. Lotenia and N. Asiatica, from both of which it differs
in the green colouring of its crown, and in the beautiful purple tint of the breast and abdomen.

Crown of the head deep shining green; shoulders, wing-coverts, rump, and upper tail-coverts shining
green, tinged with purple; a narrow line down each side of the throat ; breast and abdomen rich glossy
blue, tinged with purple; chin and centre of the throat rich purplish red ; on each side of the breast a tuft
of rich gamboge-yellow feathers; nape and back deep velvety black; primaries and secondaries glossy
brownish black; tail rounded at the end, of a deep bluish black, some of the outer feathers narrowly
margined externally with shining green; lower part of the abdomen, thighs, and under tail-coverts deep
black ; flanks smoke-grey ; bill and feet black.

The figures are of the size of life, on the Celogyne Parishii.

Since the drawing of this species was printed and the above was written, I have become aware that the
term esignis had been previously assigned by Sir William Jardine to another member of this family.
Under these circumstances I propose the name of Julgida for the present bird.